Parents, stop working so hard: Kids can do these back-to-school tasks themselves

by Meghan Holohan, nbcnews.com/better

For some parents, back-to-school time feels like a mad rush to find school supplies and clothes, fill out paperwork and sign up for extracurricular activities. There’s a solution: Ask children to help. Yes, really: It reduces stress and encourages children to be engaged.

“When we involve our kids in back to school preparation we help them take more responsibility for their own learning and education this school year,” Dr. Deborah Gilboa, a child development expert, told TODAY Parents. “Also, they are much less likely to feel shocked and betrayed on the first day of school when they realize summer vacation is over.”